ANSWERS TO FREQUENT QUESTIONS

We are three years into our effort to rid our farm and the world of plastics.  We encourage you not to use or order plastics, if possible, from us or anyone else.  That said, we know we’ve shipped a lot of plastic in the past and will still do so if a customer orders it, but we encourage you not to use it.  We use environmentally safe compostable bags that are available in larger sizes, but unfortunately not in seedling-sized bags, to package the moist bare plugs and the burlap bags for your order. Unless, however, you choose to have them put in clear plastic bags or have us put the seedlings in burlap bags.  Seedlings can be kept moist in their bare plug form for weeks if treated kindly.  They can also be wrapped in various forms of paper temporarily - like in the burlap bags for your event.  Thanks to all that took the time to read and heed our effort. 

ANSWERS TO MOST FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

---WHAT SPECIES OF EVERGREEN SEEDLINGS DO YOU OFFER? We sell three major firs and three spruces (until the seed is gone). Primary will be balsam fir and Canaan fir as well as white spruce until the seed is gone.   They are started from seeds in our greenhouse. The seed comes from reputable seed collectors all over the United States.

---WHEN DO YOU SHIP YOUR PLUG SEEDLINGS?  We ship them only between April 1st and May 31st and between September 1 and October 31.  Plug seedlings have a 4 cubic inch soil plug that stays with the roots, so they can be planted anytime the ground is not frozen and there will be a little shock.

--- WHEN SHOULD I ORDER? The earlier you order, the better. Once you have ordered, your seedlings are reserved for you. For instance, if you order 100 blue spruce seedlings in April for a September wedding, you no longer have to worry about that...they are reserved and will arrive when you request them. There is a box on the last checkout page of the shopping cart to put in the time frame when you wish to have your order delivered. 

--- HOW LONG WILL THE SEEDLINGS I ORDER BE FRESH AND ALIVE? We moisten every seedling before it is packed for your order. When your seedlings arrive they should be kept in a cool place and exposed to some light and they will be fine and healthy for your event. PLANTING AND CARE INSTRUCTIONS ARE INCLUDED WITH EVERY ORDER.  They will be fine for at least a couple of weeks if kept cool and moistened.

--- WHAT IS THE BEST SEEDLING FOR MY AREA? That is a hard question to answer. The farther north you live, the less you have to worry about which one will survive and thrive where you live. Pay attention to the growing zones and look up your own zone. Blue spruce is best for zone 8 in general. If you live in a higher elevation area in zones 7 or 8, then Canaan fir might be a good choice.  If you live in zone 6 or lower, any of the seedlings will do fine. The evergreens we grow need to go dormant in winter as part of their life cycle. They need a period of several weeks where the temperature gets below freezing or very cold in winter to maintain their proper life cycle. They might survive for a couple of years in a winterless climate but eventually will die.

Click on this link for a look at the USDA plant hardiness zone map: http://planthardiness.ars.usda.gov/PHZMWeb/

--- WHAT IS THE BEST WAY TO ORDER? We only take orders through our online shopping cart. That way there are no transcription mistakes from phone talk and there is less paperwork, plus you get an exact shipping quote and we don't have to write down your credit card information.  It always helps if you create an account online. There are options for credit cards (MC, Visa, Discover, and AMEX), purchase orders, and sending us a check or money order using our shopping cart. 

--- WHO IS YOUR SHIPPER? We will be shipping primarily by the U.S. Postal Service by priority mail but will use FedEx Home Delivery for large orders when necessary and FedEx Express for overnight orders.

--- WHY IS SHIPPING SO EXPENSIVE? First let me say that huge companies like Amazon, Walmart, and others who offer free shipping on virtually anything make all small companies pay more!  We are a small farm that doesn't have a huge volume and therefore doesn't get huge discounts on shipping like the big guys.  We pay the same as what you would if you shipped something from your farm or home..we just pass that cost on to you.  The more seedlings you buy, the cheaper shipping gets per seedling. 

--- HOW LONG DOES SHIPPING TAKE?  We can almost always have your order prepared within a day or two of your order.  Ground shipping takes anywhere from one to five business days, depending on how far you are from central Vermont.  Most of New England is one or two business days from us; Michigan, Ohio, and North Carolina two business days; Minnesota, Kansas, and Texas three business days; southern California four business days, northern California, Oregon, and Washington five business days.